Candle In The Wind

Chapter Sixty Two

Miscommunications

IIt’d been days since I’d been home. I opened the door and held it as I stood to the side to let Juliette, Ava and Pink. Pink Vishwakumar left her home in New Hampshire. She looked around Ava’s age. Big brown eyes, and a fairly big forehead. It didn’t look bad at all, it was just kinda the first thing anyone would notice when they looked at her.

“Thank you again,”

Ava said as she walked in.

After Juliette pulled me to the side to explain the situation between Ava and Pink—which wasn’t much of an explanation, she just told me Pink needed a place to crash, then she batted her eyelashes at me, waiting for that yes she knew she’d hear from me.

I didn’t ask any questions because Juliette was just as confused as I was, so after we closed up the Barn, I just focused on bringing them home.

Ava and Pink seem traumatized, they held each other like they wouldn’t let go, and each time Juliette asked a question during the silent car ride, Pink started to tear up which led to Ava gently comforting her while also being on the verge of crying herself.

And now, while I walked back to them after closing the door with Clay in my arms, Juliette was standing near the couches, glancing back at me. Ava sat on the couch very close to Pink, brushing her long brown hair back.

“Are you guys okay?”

My brows furrowed, maybe a little bit scared they might start crying and I won’t know how to help. “Water?” I offered awkwardly.

“Sorry to trouble you,”

Pink’s voice shook as her brows pulled together and her lips quivered, “I’m not usually like this.”

Ava leaned in towards her. “Pinky,”

her voice softened, “it’s okay.”

I glanced at Juliette who also looked like she was about to cry—she seemed shaken up with all the intense emotions going around the room and if I stood there a minute longer I would fall victim too.

“I’ll grab that water for you guys,”

I said as I walked away.

I looked at Clay in horror.

I wouldn’t think they’d notice if I came back in fifteen minutes—that’d give them enough time to sort through everything, calm down, and hopefully feel a little better. I’d just pop back in with water and pretend like I wasn’t gone for more than three minutes and show them the rooms they’d be staying in, and tomorrow—well, tomorrow they could have all the girl talk in the world without me hovering awkwardly around.

I kissed Clay on the side of his head. “This is my worst nightmare, buddy,”

I whispered to him.

I tried not to make any noise. Clay had his pacifier and I had my phone on silent and all the lights turned off except for the ones in the living room. And I was convinced if I didn’t make any noise, they wouldn’t look across the room for me because right now to them, I wasn’t relevant. I could hear the sniffing and whispering, and honestly I was scared to ask if someone died.

I worked through my emails as I leaned myself against the counter and even Clay seems curious about my line of work. I was just happy he was a great sport. Not fussing or anything, just watching everything I did like he’d start copying me at any time.

Having a son still shocked me. I never thought about having kids. I had nothing against having kids, I just never thought about it at all because frankly I never thought I could pass down that kind of love. My parents were better than others but compared to decent parents they were awful. I never got familiar with what a parents’ love should feel like, so I thought without knowing what it was supposed to be like people like me wouldn’t be a good parent.

It was easy to be a good or decent partner but kids were a different commitment—they were someone you could easily damage beyond repair because of high expectations or a simple bad day.

Clay was a gift. I didn’t have time to get into my head, I loved him already, it was too late to think of anything else or to feel anything else other than how much I loved him.

“Cal!”

Juliette called out.

I quickly closed my phone and shoved it in my pocket. “Coming!”

I opened the fridge and grabbed three water bottles and made my way to the living room in a hurry.

“Here’s the water,”

I muttered as I placed the water bottles on the coffee table. I took a deep breath as I adjusted Clay in my arms.

“They need some rest,”

Juliette said as she joined me at my side.

I leaned down to her level, “I only have three rooms—”

She nodded without sparing me a single glance. “Yeah, they’re staying in my room, I’ll sleep with you,”

she mumbled.

I bit back a smile. I looked away and looked straight at Pink and Ava who were now hugging. “Will they be okay?”

Juliette sighed softly, “Pinky just needs some sleep.”

“Did they fill you in yet?”

She shook her head. “No, I just know Pinky’s devastated.”

I hummed. “Florence will be here soon, I had her come a little later. I can get Clay ready for bed. Could you—“

“Yeah, I’ll help them get comfortable,”

she said as if she could read my thoughts.

Florence was now settled with Clay in his room, and Juliette was getting settled in mine. She took a shower and slipped herself into a nightgown.

“I’ve never seen Ava so emotional,”

she said as she got in bed.

“Yeah?”

I rolled my wrist and took my watch off as I walked into my closet.

“I don’t think I can let her work tomorrow, Pink will be all alone.”

I gently fixed the watch into the cushioned pillow that was meant to keep it stored in the drawer next to all of my other watches. “Have her take the day off then,”

I said loud enough for her to hear me, “you too, take the day off she’s your friend.”

Juliette sighed, “but then it’ll just be Ben-Ben and Bailey running the barn. I’d have to reschedule my classes, and—“

“Do exactly that. Or close for the day,”

I cut her off before she started to ramble.

“This is why I should’ve hired more people,”

she said as she groaned.

I did apply and begged but I wouldn’t say I told you so.

“Bailey would be happy to have a day off, he’s got exams coming up.”

I pulled the jersey over my head. “All the more reason why you should close tomorrow.”

I tossed it in the bin and walked out the closet to take a look at Juliette. She was in the middle of wrapping her hair with a silk scarf.

“Let’s go to the beach tomorrow.”

Her brows furrowed as she looked up at me. “Tomorrow? Cal it’ll be like forty something degrees out—“

“The sun will be out, it’ll be nice, and I can rent us a town house by the beach, book us some massages.”

I pulled my pants down and Juliette quickly looked away like she wasn’t used to seeing me unclothed.

I still had my boxers on—she was being cautious. I thought I’d been confusing her.

“The girls would like that. I feel like they need that right now don’t you think?”

She nodded sheepishly, still avoiding the sight of me, “the distraction would be nice.”

I smiled as I walked towards the bed and lifted the comforter up. “Great, close the shop tomorrow and I’ll get us to the beach.”

Juliette sighed as she turned her full body towards me. “Cal you’re confusing me.”

She made that face she always made when she was confused or frustrated.

I opened my mouth to explain myself, but she quickly shook her head. “I did a bad thing. I know. I explained myself, apologized and I even cried,”

she took a deep breath, “and then you tell me you need space, and then like two weeks later you’re giving me cheek kisses, forehead kisses, and now we’re in bed making plans for tomorrow like a married. Loving. Couple,” she pressed each word with a sigh, or maybe I was deluded enough to think she was devastated to know that we weren’t exactly what she described us as.

I sighed, disappointed in myself, this was never any of my intentions. I never meant to confuse her or punish her. I just couldn’t find a way to stay away from Juliette.

“It’s all my fault,”

I muttered as I leaned in towards her and ate all the space between us. My legs brushed hers. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Did you even need the space?”

she asked with a half chuckle, “because if anything, you’ve gotten more gentle with me.” She shook her head as she looked down, “nothing changed, Cal. Space was supposed to help you find a way to forgive me, and you’re just confusing me.”

I cupped her face as I released a deep breath. “I’ve already forgiven you, Juliette,”

I whispered softly. She was still looking down. I pulled my brows together. “Juliette look at me.”

She finally looked up and my eyes met her soft ones. “I’ve already forgiven you.”

I was expecting a beautiful smile out of her, not a smack on the shoulder.

“Why didn’t you address that with me?”

She sounded even more frustrated with me than before. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out because I was stunned with another smack on the shoulder. “How was I supposed to know? Huh?” She pulled back and glared at me.

“Ow.”

I squinted as I placed a hand on my shoulder and pushed myself back on the bed. “I was going to tell you at the beach tomorrow,” I said as I turned my head to look at her.

She rolled her eyes as she scoffed, “I can’t believe you!”

I smiled.

She looked at me annoyed. “Why are you smiling? You were going to sleep next to me without telling me we were getting back together.”

My smile dropped instantly, and I pulled myself on my shoulder. “Baby, we were always together.”

Her brows furrowed, “Cal you said you needed space.”

I nodded, “yeah space, not a breakup.”

She laughed sarcastically. “How was I supposed to know that?”

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her back in bed with me. Juliette laughed as she pretended to free herself. Her face was buried into the crook of my neck, and I rested my chin on top of her head and held her close.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily, sweetheart.”

She gasped as she pushed my chest. “Get rid of you?! You were getting rid of me!”

I shook my head as I wrapped my legs on top of hers. “Never. I can only live off loving you, remember?”

She laughed.

“And if you ever tell me you need space, I’ll just take a single step back.”

“What?”

She laughed even harder.

“Fine, I’ll just keep stepping back until you tell me to stop, okay?”

I chuckled.

She nodded with a soft smile, “okay!”

“Oh, Juliette! My Juliette!”

I chanted.

“Cal!”

she squealed as she laughed.

I pulled her up and got on top of her and kissed her all over her face. Juliette scrunched her nose and closed her eyes as she smiled.

She was really, really my Juliette.